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The St. Louis Cardinals were active at the non-waiver trade deadline this season.  The moves shook up the clubhouse by sending two clubhouse favorites, Allen Craig and Joe Kelly, to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for John Lackey and Corey Littrell.  News reports quickly surfaced, such as this one from Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, that players were unhappy with the deal.

The Cardinals have struggled at the plate.  One of the most glaring examples was Craig, who saw a dramatic decline from his former production.  Meanwhile, the team’s top prospect, Oscar Taveras, continued to struggle in a part-time role.  General manager John Mozeliak saw the opportunity to eliminate the platoon in right field while also bolstering his pitching staff.  

Many assumed it would be Taveras who would be on the move.

Joe Buck suggested during a Fox Sports 1 telecast this weekend that Taveras is not well liked among Cardinal players.  Joe Strauss, who covers the Cardinals for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, echoed those sentiments when he joined local CBS Sports Radio 920’s morning show, “The Morning After,” via Brendan Marks.

Strauss states that players don’t appreciate the lack of work ethic from the youngster.  He also casts stones at Taveras’ sense of entitlement, which appears to be based on his pedigree.  Each of these things are concerning for fans.

Lost in the shuffle is the throwaway comment from Buck and Tom Verducci that the Cardinals lack the leadership of someone who can say something directly to Taveras.  Indeed, that is the major difference between this Cardinals team and those of years past.

The veterans on this club are a bit different.  They are players, like Adam Wainwright, who show tremendous support to each other.  They are the strong and silent types, like Matt Holliday and Yadier Molina.  Gone are the Chris Carpenters and Lance Berkmans.  

Most significantly, gone is Albert Pujols.

Pujols, possibly more than most players, seemed to be the leader who would pull guys aside.  He would address their work ethic.  He set the example, and he expected players to follow it.  He was often the voice of reason within the clubhouse.

Molina needs to be that player now.  A protege of Pujols while he was in St. Louis, Molina blossomed under the tutelage of Albert.  He has proven to be the field general the young pitching staff so desperately needs.  

The Cardinals need a leader.  The Cardinals need someone willing to get in the face of the young guys and tell them what is expected of them when they wear the Birds on the Bat.  The Cardinals need someone to step into that role.

That someone likely needs to be Yadier Molina.

Bill Ivie is the founder of i70baseball.com
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The Kansas City Royals experienced a scary moment over the weekend when Yordano Ventura left Monday’s start with elbow discomfort. The organization announced a setback to prospect Kyle Zimmer this morning. It has been a rough few days to be a Kansas City pitcher.

Ventura has been a huge positive in the rotation this year for the Royals. Despite his record of two wins and five losses, he has thrown very well in the early part of this season. Through 10 starts, he has notched more than 57 innings pitched, striking out 59 hitters while walking 19. His ERA hovers just below 3.50, and his WHIP stands at 1.256. All very impressive numbers for a young hurler who throws his fastball consistently around 100 miles per hour.

Brad Pinkerton of Sporting News obtained an update that offers the Royals a bit of encouragement:

Royals manager Ned Yost was assured by trainers that Ventura‘s injury was not to his ulnar collateral ligament. The discomfort was on the lateral (outside) part of the elbow. This is a sliver of positive news, but more will be known following the MRI later in the day.

The loss of Ventura opens up a potential spot in the rotation, at least on a temporary basis. While there are various options, fans would like to hear that Zimmer could be considered for an early audition.

Problem is, Zimmer hasn’t thrown an inning yet this season.

Zimmer was presumably healthy despite his inactivity. The team even said as much when talking with Jim Callis of MLB.com earlier in May. It was a strategic move to help the pitcher be ready to pitch at a high level late in the season. The Royals seemed to be taking a new approach in order to maximize Zimmer‘s potential immediately.

However, in a press release sent out by the team this morning, the Royals confirmed that Zimmer was experiencing lat pain and would be sidelined for six to eight weeks. The press release reads:

The Kansas City Royals announced today that right-handed pitching prospect Kyle Zimmer will miss additional time this season with a strain in his right latissimus dorsi muscle. Zimmer, the fifth overall selection in the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft, will begin playing catch again in six to eight weeks. 

With Zimmer on the shelf and Ventura likely headed there himself, the Royals are left with a decision to make in the next few days regarding their rotation. There are options in Omaha, the Triple-A affiliate of the Royals. Most of the staff there has pitched well this season, and any one of the starters would be worthy of a promotion.

To promote from Omaha would require a roster move, however. The Royals currently have a full 40-man roster. None of the starting pitchers in Omaha hold a spot on that roster.

The likely move will be to activate Bruce Chen from the disabled list. Chen, who threw a simulated game a little over a week ago, should be ready to return to the rotation in the near future.

The Royals need Ventura healthy if they want to continue winning this season.

Statistics courtesy of MLB.com and current as of May 27.

Bill Ivie is the founder of i70baseball.
Follow him on Twitter to discuss all things baseball all season long.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams, by most accounts, had a solid opening series against the Cincinnati Reds. He produced with the bat, proved that a defensive shift will not always work against him and played adequate defense. Then he tried to catch a foul ball as it flew into the stands down the right field line.

That play seems to be all anyone can talk about now.

A harmless foul ball caught by a fan does not generally produce much ire. But as Adams gathered himself to return to his position, he made a mistake that has been made by countless other young athletes: he pushed the fan.

It is important to clarify that statement, with or without the video proof. Adams did not push the fan in a way that would injure him. He did not push the fan in a way that could be misconstrued as an intention to hit the fan. He put his glove on the fan’s chest and pushed him. The fan responded by showing Adams that the ball was in his possession. 

It turned out to be harmless. But harmless does not always mean that it should be forgiven. Regardless of the situation, the description remains the same. Adams, a professional athlete, put his hands on a fan. That should never happen.

Adams claimed he was simply trying to avoid falling into the stands, attempting to push himself back into a standing position to keep from toppling over. He shared those thoughts with Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

I was trying to stop, … I hit the tarp and I tried from going into the stands. People came up to me and said I shoved him. I didn’t know I had.

I’m not that type of guy to go after anybody. I was just trying to keep from going into the stands.

A fine excuse that is refuted pretty easily when you watch the video. It was not innocent or accidental. Adams was frustrated with the fan for whatever reason and his recourse was to push him.

The question now turns to his taking responsibility for actions. The league office has likely reviewed the incident. Punishment is likely coming. The severity of the punishment could tell a lot about the situation and how serious the league takes it.  

If Adams is suspended, it will be because the league wants to make the message clear to the players: No matter the situation, if you put your hands on a fan, the punishment will be severe. A fine will send a clear statement that the league is willing to take into consideration the severity of the moment. Adams’ shove was minimal. It does not likely require a strong response from the league.

The league is not likely to ignore it, however. Adams made a mistake and will need to pay the price.

Bill Ivie is the founder of i70baseball.com. Follow him on Twitter to discuss all things baseball throughout the season.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Kansas City Royals acquired the services of Omar Infante through free agency this offseason.  It was a clear move to improve a clear weak spot in the team’s offense.  It may not have been a solid move toward consistency at the position.

Infante is suffering from a bone spur in his right elbow.  The ailment has kept him from game action on a regular basis this spring.  Concerns have surfaced that he may not be ready for Opening Day, according to Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star.  McCullough goes on to share the likely plan for Infante:

Manager Ned Yost plans to bring Infante with the team to Milwaukee for a two-game exhibition series that starts Friday. Infante will play in minor-league games here on Wednesday and Thursday. In the second game, he would only take at-bats as the designated hitter.

The larger concern with Infante opening the season on the disabled list is the lack of depth behind him at second base.  The lack of depth at middle infield is a growing concern for the Royals.  The Royals have few options behind Infante.

Mike Moustakas played second in spring

The man they call “Moose” found himself at second base earlier this spring for a few innings.  It was a move done simply for emergency purposes.  Should the team find itself needing a second baseman due to injuries in the depth chart ahead of him, Moose may take the field in a strange position.

Moose projects as the Royals third baseman and, given his impressive spring numbers, a key part of the offense.  Moving him around would be disruptive to a player who is finally putting it all together at his own position.  Ultimately, the Royals will not play Moose at second unless it is absolutely necessary. 

Johnny Giavotella is the only natural second base option

The lack of production from Giavotella was one of the leading factors for the team to sign Infante in the first place.  However, the team acquired Infante and did not invest in another man who played second base primarily.

Giavotella has been optioned to Triple-A Omaha but could easily be recalled if a player is put on the disabled list.  While the Royals would likely recall him in order to provide some depth, there is very little chance that manager Ned Yost will entrust him with the everyday job, even temporarily. 

Danny Valencia was signed for emergencies like this

Valencia projects as the Royals’ backup infielder.  A natural third baseman, he has been discussed this spring as an option at other positions around the infield.  While he may not be the most ideal choice at second base long-term, he is quite likely the obvious choice there while the team waits for Infante to be ready.

Valencia is likely the player the Royals will use at second base for a short time while Infante prepares to debut for the team.

Infante has not appeared in a major league game since the injury occurred over a week ago, so a disabled-list placement could be backdated.  This would minimize the amount of time he would miss in the regular season, giving the Royals some added flexibility.

Until then, they will look to the above options to fill the gap.

Bill Ivie is the founder of i70baseball.com
Follow him on Twitter to discuss all things baseball throughout the season

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The St. Louis Cardinals came to spring training with very few roster decisions to make.  Most of those decisions have been reached in the last few days. 

Kolten Wong appears to be the starting second baseman, Jon Jay and Peter Bourjos will share time in center field, Joe Kelly will be the fifth starter, Carlos Martinez will serve as the eighth-inning reliever and Pat Neshek has seemingly made the club.  That leaves only one decision to be made: Which pitcher will join the bullpen as the seventh reliever?

The competition comes down to three young hopefuls: Jorge Rondon, Scott McGregor and Keith Butler.  Those three arms head into the final week of spring training hoping to win a spot on the roster of players heading north to Cincinnati for Opening Day.

Butler is the known commodity of the group, having pitched 20 innings over 16 games for the Cardinals in 2013.  His performance was far from dominant, walking 11 hitters while striking out 16, but it is enough to earn him consideration yet again.  

His spring performance does not look that great either, having thrown just over eight innings and surrendering eight runs.  His five walks this spring may raise a flag concerning control.  His minor league stats from 2013 do not seem to suggest it is a long term problem, as he only walked 11 hitters over 41 innings.

Rondon is another in the long line of power arms the Cardinals seem to be able to produce from their farm system.  The difference with him is that he may not have full control over the lively stuff he pushes across the plate.  He has only walked three hitters this spring while striking out seven.  

Perhaps most telling is the fact that Rondon has yet to surrender a run.  Rondon did pitch in Memphis last season and did well despite the control issues he faced.  In just under 68 innings, he walked 37 hitters while striking out 42.  He may need a little more time in the minors to prove he has his control settled before making the team.

Manager Mike Matheny shared his thoughts on Rondon with Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

With Rondon, you’re looking at stuff and someone who has improved.  We gave him a task of pounding the strike zone and simplifying his approach. He’s done well and seen some results.

The long shot of the group is McGregor, who is a non-roster invitee to camp.  His four innings over three games this spring have yielded three runs, two walks and a pair of strikeouts.  McGregor spent 2013 as a starter in the Cardinals’ minor leagues and is seemingly being looked at as a long relief option.  

While he struggles for consistency as well as playing time, his placement on the team would also require a subsequent roster move to make room on the 40-man.  

Rondon and McGregor may have taken advantage of the situation to get their names in the minds of those in charge.  Unfortunately, it may come down to experience and the product Matheny already knows.

The final relief position likely belongs to Butler unless something goes horribly wrong.

Statistics courtesy of MLB.com and current through 3/24/14.

Bill Ivie is the founder of i70baseball.com.
Follow him on Twitter to discuss all things baseball throughout the season.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Trade rumors begin to swirl as spring training nears completion in Major League Baseball.  As Opening Day draws near, teams begin to identify their needs as well as their surpluses.  The St. Louis Cardinals, who have found themselves actively involved in the market for shortstops around the league over the last few seasons, suddenly find themselves with a player to offer to the market.

Pete Kozma is the odd man out in St. Louis, and general manager John Mozeliak hopes to benefit from that.

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN, the Cardinals have been shopping Kozma around the league, letting other teams know that the young shortstop is available:

#StLCards making Pete Kozma available, but don’t believe #Mets are interested. Not really upgrade from Ruben Tejada.

— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) March 20, 2014

The reasons for trade rumors surrounding Kozma are obvious.  The Cardinals signed Jhonny Peralta during the offseason, Daniel Descalso offers a backup option who can play multiple positions and the team needs the room on the 40-man roster.  

All of this could lead to a trade for a low-level prospect in exchange for the man who played 143 games for the Cardinals last season.

Joe Strauss of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch points out another need that the Cardinals may wish to address with the rumored trade of Kozma based on the recent reassignment of relief pitcher Tyler Lyons.

“The Cardinals can option Kozma or keep him as Peralta’s backup. Having optioned Tyler Lyons to Memphis on Wednesday, the club could survey the market for long relief. No obvious internal candidate currently exists,” according to Strauss.

That option would not alleviate the roster restriction that exists but is a fair trade rumor as it fulfills both the team’s need and surplus at the same time.  The argument against a long reliever in return is based more on the value that Kozma holds.  

Ben Humphrey of Viva El Birdos breaks down the value of Kozma on the market and what fans should expect in return.  Ultimately, Humphrey comes to the conclusion that a trade involving Kozma would likely resemble the trade of Brendan Ryan in December of 2010.  In that trade, the Cardinals received relief pitcher Maikel Cleto, a low-level prospect with a lively arm.

The Cardinals will do their due diligence in shopping Kozma around to see if there is a trade that makes sense.  If the past can tell us anything, it is that Mozeliak will only move Kozma if he feels that the Cardinals will clearly benefit from the return.

Meanwhile, the trade rumors will continue to circulate.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.

Bill Ivie is the founder of i70baseball.com.
Follow him on Twitter to discuss all things baseball throughout the season.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Spring training offers a preview of what the 2014 season holds for the teams around Major League Baseball.  It also gives a glimpse of the future of the organizations as prospects take the field and show off their talents in front of the big league coaching staffs.

The Cardinals have their share of prospects, and the folks over at Cardinals Farm do a great job of keeping fans up to date on the various players and their production.  Recently, they identified the top prospects in the organization.  Their top five were as follows:

1. Oscar Taveras
2. Carlos Martinez
3. Kolten Wong
4. Stephen Piscotty
5. Marco Gonzales

With that in mind, it is time to grade each of those prospects on their production to this point in spring training.  As Opening Day draws near, the report cards are starting to be handed out.

Let’s take a look and see who’s making the grade.

Statistics courtesy of MLB.com and are current through March 17 unless otherwise noted.

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The Kansas City Royals prepare for their season in Surprise, Ariz., every year.  The excitement level surrounding the club during spring training in recent years has greatly increased.

The excitement is deserved.  The team is playing well, players they are depending on are producing and they seem to have the right pieces in most every spot you look.  The Royals are on the verge of discovering the success that has eluded them for more than 20 years.

Along the way, the players on the field tend to see their stock rise and fall.  Quality production, staying healthy and consistent work will lead to a rise in stock.  Failing to stay healthy and on the field, not being a veteran leader or finding yourself suddenly in minor league camp can bring that stock down.

The Royals have their fair share of news this spring.  A quick look around can show the varying stock of six players.

Statistics are courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.

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The defending National League champion St. Louis Cardinals entered spring training with very few position battles.  Manager Mike Matheny has a lineup full of consistent, proven players at almost every position.  

Predicting the lineup for the team is not entirely difficult, though there are a few positions that will remain in flux.  Players may fill a few different lineup spots depending on other starters that day or the opponent’s starting pitcher.  It is a popular subject this time of year, as evidenced by the United Cardinal Bloggers and their recent responses to a roundtable question posed by Ben Chambers of The View From Here asking them to predict the lineup themselves.

Ultimately, the lineup will not vary greatly.  The impressive part may be just how solid the lineup is every day.

The best way to look at the lineup may be to break it down into pieces.  The leadoff spot, the “two-hole”, the middle of the order and the bottom of the order.  Looking at each one individually will give a good examination of just what the Cardinals have to offer in 2014.

All statistics are from Baseball-Reference unless otherwise noted.

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Spring training is in full swing and the St. Louis Cardinals are creating plenty of buzz. The reigning National League champions have a stacked roster at the major league level. It is the continued improvement of the players in the farm system that keeps the fans coming back for more early in spring.

The roster offers very few surprises for 2014. This is a great time of year to get a glimpse of a team’s future, however. The future stars around the diamond for the Cardinals are keeping fans chattering about the possibilities.

Buzz is not always a positive thing. While the Cardinals have plenty of positive things happening around the youth in the organization, one of the team’s top prospects, Oscar Taveras, has yet to take the field. There is also no timetable for when he will. Kolten Wong, another prospect that is slated to have a spot in the starting lineup this season, is turning heads with his continued lack of production. The work ethic is there but the results will need to come around eventually.

Meanwhile, Randal Grichuk, the newest prospects in camp, is doing all the right things to prove that he is ready to realize his potential in a new uniform. Sometimes, it is the work going on before and after the games that lay the ground work for future opportunities.

Of course, it is the surplus of young pitching that always draws attention and the Cardinals have young pitching in a seemingly endless stockpile. That stockpile showed up in a big way over the weekend and had fans chattering almost immediately.

The following prospects are causing plenty of buzz with fans and pundits alike this spring.

Statistics in the following article are sourced from MLB.com unless otherwise noted.

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